Citation

Teo CS, Stokes AN, Loh T, Bagramian RA. Ann. Acad. Med. Singapore 1995; 24(1): 23-25.

Affiliation

Department of Preventive Dentistry, National University of Singapore.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Academy of Medicine, Singapore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7605091

Abstract

A survey of 246 boys aged 12-17 years (mean 13.8 years) determined the sports played, dental injury experience, knowledge and usage of and attitudes towards mouthguard wearing. Most played basketball and soccer. Twenty-one suffered 1 injury episode, 7-2 and 10-3 or more tooth injuries. Twenty-six subluxations, 19 fractures and 1 avulsion were reported. The sports with the highest prevalence of dental injury were boxing and wrestling (33%), soccer (20%), and basketball (19%). While 144 (56%) of boys knew about mouthguards, none wore one. Only 64 (25%) would wear a mouthguard if given one. Most dental injuries were minor, but four high-risk sports (> 19% injury prevalence) would justify preventive measures, including education for injury prevention and encouragement of mouthguard use.

Language: en